Quabaug Corp. Helps Environment Bounce Back
Manufacturer makes reuse a corporate policy
Manufacturers in New England don't have the greatest reputation when it comes to caring for the environment.
In fact there are numerous vacant lots scattered throughout Central Massachusetts where manufacturers produced goods while simultaneously abusing the land.
But manufacturing has changed. Companies today are all too aware of what impact their manufacturing processes can have on the environment. And many, like Quabaug Corp. in North Brookfield, are hoping to tread lightly on the land.
"We're always trying to push ourselves to be considered a green company," said Michael Gionfriddo, president and chief operating officer of Quabaug.
Quabaug, which was founded in 1916, is the largest employer in the tiny town of North Brookfield (population 4,694) with 315 employees. Since 1965, the privately owned company has licensed the Vibram name and produced soles for shoes, primarily hiking boots.
The ways that Quabaug strives to go green are varied, ranging from installing new water systems and lighting to finding new ways to recycle - and market - left over rubber.
Its most notable - and creatively named - reuse of rubber is QuaBoing, the brand name for a line of loose surfacing and rubber tile products for outdoor applications.
Today the shards of left over rubber that once were sent to a landfill are now ground up and shipped out to landscapers or formed into tiles for playgrounds. The product is pitched as a softer alternative to other playground or public space surfaces.
For The Dogs
Quabaug got serious about marketing QuaBoing last year, according to Sally Geldard, inside sales and service coordinator for the company.
The company is targeting day care centers, landscape companies and garden centers initially. And while people are still getting used to the idea of using rubber in their garden, the product line has gained three new distributors, Geldard said.
Quabaug has also begun producing pet products under the brand name My Good Dog, which include balls, bones and frisbees. And this year the company is introducing a new product for Disc Golf enthusiasts.
Gionfriddo estimated that 95 percent of the company's revenue still comes from producing shoe soles.
"The other products are a relatively new diversification effort," he said.
Beyond finding new niche markets, Quabaug has also taken steps to improve the plant's efficiency. In particular, the company now captures steam left over from its manufacturing operations to heat its office building. Quabaug has also installed a new water tower system, which allows the company to reuse the water it uses to cool rubber during the manufacturing process, cutting down on discharge to the local sewer system.
The new water system - completed two years ago - was a $700,000 investment that allows the company to save more than 28,000 gallons of water per week.
Craig Barton, general manager at Quabaug, said equal to the potential for cost savings in implementing "green" technology was the idea of simply being "a good corporate citizen."
Of course, being "green" isn't only about the positive PR. At the end of the day, a major driver for the company is cost, according to Gionfriddo.
"It's very expensive to operate this facility, and as energy costs continue to escalate, we started to focus on utilities, including electricity and water and sewer," he said.
As far as electricity goes, Quabaug has taken advantage of incentives offered by National Grid to update its lighting throughout the manufacturing facility and offices. While the company has taken on green initiatives in the last several years, Gionfriddo said the efforts are part of the company's legacy, dating back to the early 20th century.
"When you look at our heritage, that of an outdoor company, we're continuing that history of being a good environmental steward," Gionfriddo said.
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